SYN[SIZING ...t.

H t special circumstances in the story cause the reader to be

dissatisfied with the tier and fathers explanations for the existence of the trout?
10, it role does storytelling play in the selection? Why is Julia disturbed by the
stories crited
About the trout?
Today the two classes discussed answers to the four questions on Sean O'Failain's
story, "The Trout."
Morning and afternoon class answers to each question follow the questions (in
italics) from the teacher.
1. Julia is a round character (we know many things about her). Describe her
character (her personality). Use three of her actions as support for your ideasone
from the beginning, one from the middle, and one from the end of the story.
Morning Class Answer:
Julia is an active, playful, enthusiastic, adventurous, vital young girl. We can see this
in her special game at The Dark Walk, which she plays as soon as she arrives at G.
Also, she is thoughtful, since she thinks to include her younger brother in the fun for
the first time that year.
Julia is a skeptical, curious, suspicious, haughty, stubborn, hesitant, confident young
girl. She is, in a way, a mix of youth and adult behaviour. She doesnt believe
automatically any more what her elders tell her, particularly the stories from her
parents about where the trout had come from.
Her action (releasing the trout) shows she is caring, thoughtful, mature, kind,
selfless, and generous. She comes to this conclusion after thinking about it, and also
trying something elsefeeding the fish. She made a good plan, and was quite brave
to go out at night to The Dark Walk and rescue the fish.
Afternoon Class Answer:
Julia is an active, energetic, confident, humorous, brave, suspicious, questioning
young girl.
At the beginning, she runs to The Dark Walk and raced into it and screamed with
pleasure and raced on to reach the light. This shows her active, energetic nature.
Her questioning and suspicious nature is shown in the paragraph where she
suspects the story about the well.
In the last paragraph Julias confidence and humour is shown when she says to her

brother, Fairy godmother, I suppose? and then pats the palms of her hands.
2. Julia is a dynamic character (a character who learns something). What does she
learn? How does she learn it?
Morning Class Answer:
Young children are generally self-centered in life. Everything seems to circle around
what they need. Julia learns that some things are important to do outside herself
(selfless behaviour) and how to decide by herself without anyone telling her it is the
right thing to do. She learns it by planning and doing the action of releasing the
trout.
Afternoon Class Answer:
Julia learns how to use her mind in a logical way to solve a problem. She also learns
something from her mother: Julia knows now how to tell the same kind of stories as
her, especially when she does it with her little brother at the end.
She also learns how to be selfless; in other words, she acts for the welfare of the
fish, without any compelling reason to do so. No one tells her to do it. She acts as a
person with free will. This is adult behaviour.
3. In this story, the setting (where the story happens, the characteristics of the
place itself) is important. The setting of The Dark Walk affects Julia in at least two
different ways. Describe the two effects.
Morning Class Answer:
At first, The Dark Walk is very scary or frightening for Julia, but part of this is her
own imagination. Later, she is now more familiar because she has gone there to see
the trout many times. So, she is able to go at night, in the dark, and free the fish
without fear.
Afternoon Class Answer:
The Dark Walk shows Julias fear of darkness and the unknown in the game she
plays at first.
The Dark Walk promotes Julias maturity, by forcing her to face her fear of the dark.
She goes there quite freely to see the trout on more on one occasion and at night to
rescue the fish, finally.
4. Julia has a strong opinion about her parents stories. Explain what this conflict
(difference of opinion) shows about her. Also, how are her father and mothers
stories different? What do their stories show about them?
Morning Class Answer:
She doesnt believe the stories of her mother, in particular, any more. This is part of
growing up for children in some traditions. When something is difficult to explain,
parents make up a story to explain it (temporarily) until the child is old enough. The
mothers story is more magical (fairy godmother) and the fathers is more scientific
and logical. It probably shows that the mother is more experienced with younger
children, so knows what level a child is ready to hear about. The son loves the
mothers little story.
Afternoon Class Answer:
Julias conflict with her parents stories shows that she is starting to grow up and no
longer accepts magical explanations. But, for Julia, it is even more important that

she understand how the fish can live in such poor conditions and then, on how
to fix the problem.
The mothers story is magical and is typical of good mothers in certain cultures,
who give such stories to the children as necessary. The fathers story is typical of
men, who like to make everything into something logical and scientific. The stories
of both parents, however, are less effective than Julias practical approach to solving
the fishs problem.
TheTroutbySeanOFaolainABouTTHEAuThoR
Sean OFaolain(19001991)was the pseudonym of Sean Whelan. He was born in
Cork County Cork, Ireland. From the age of eighteen to twenty-one, OFaolai fought
in the Irish insurrection, an experience that influenced his writing. After receiving
masters degrees from the National University of Ireland and from Harvard
University, OFaolain taught Gaelic, Anglo-Irish literature, and English in high school
and universities in the United States and Great Britain. He returned to Ireland,
publishing his first collection of short stories, Midsummer Night Madness and Other
Stories. The success of his first novel, A Nest of Simple Folk, allowed OFaolain to
full time. OFaolain wrote three other novels, Bird Alone, Come Back to Erin, and
Arid Again? Among his short story collections are The Man Who Invented Sin, The
Heat of the Sun, and The Talking Trees.

"The Doll's House" - Katherine Mansfield - Critical

Analysis
Introduction:
The Doll's House is a short story by Katherine Mansfield, written in the year 1922. The
story reveals the extent to which class consciousness has wreaked havoc in the social
set up, so much so that the other children are discouraged from talking to the children
from the lowest of the social classes. The story traces the problem of class
consciousness through the character of Kezia, and her journey from innocence to the
symbolic world of experience.
The Arrival of the Dolls House in the Burnell family:

The Doll's House

The Burnell children receive a dolls house from Mrs Hay, who had come to stay with
them. The children were so excited about the dolls house, and they decide to show it off
to their school friends. With the arrival of the doll's house, the Burnell children get so
excited and greatly attracted to it. While the two older children admire the red carpet,
the red chairs, and the gold frames of this richly decorated house, Kezia, the youngest
of the girls, takes an interest in the rather simple lamp.
The Dolls House Cynosure of all Eyes:
In school, during playtime, Isabel, the eldest of the Burnell children, was surrounded.
The girls of her class nearly fought to be her special friend. All the girls, giggling
together, pressed up close to have a look at the dolls house, which was the cynosure of
all eyes now. The only two who stayed outside the ring were the little Kelveys. Many of
the children, including the Burnells, were not allowed to speak to them. The Kelveys
were shunned by everybody. When Kezia asks her mother, "Can't I ask the Kelveys just
once?" To which, the response is, "Certainly not, Kezia!
The fact that even the teacher had a special voice for them, and a special smile for the
other children speaks to the discreet (or rather distinct) ways in which class
consciousness is practised even by teachers themselves, in maintaining the social
hierarchy.

Symbolism of the Lamp:

Kezia took a great liking for the undecorated lamp. While the others seem to be
interested in the gaudy decorations that adorn the house, for Kezia, the lamp was
perfect. It was so real. When Isabel, the bossy eldest sister went on describing the
various features of the dolls house, Kezia broke in and said, Youve forgotten the lamp,
Isabel! The lamps best of all cried Kezia. But nobody paid attention. The lamp here
symbolises the working class. These lamps are the sacrificial lights in the altar of the
wealthy capitalists. According to Marx, these working classes or proletariat are
individuals who sell their labour power for wages and who do not own the means of
production. He argued that they were responsible for creating the wealth of a society,
but ironically, are treated with contempt and disdain by society.
Innocence vs Experience:
Kezia decides to make friends with the Kelveys because she has not been so far
indoctrinated with the class consciousness which seem to have corrupted her older
sisters. Mansfield beautifully interweaves the contradicting forces of Kezia's innocence
with the bigoted views of those who live in the world of experience. While the others
keep reminding her of her high class status, Kezia insists on her thoughts of equality to
the prejudiced views of the members of her social class. By doing so, she is
metaphorically, trying to break the social hierarchy of class inequalities.
Discrimination based on Class:
Mansfield brings out the bitter truth that the discrimination between the wealthy haves
and the underprivileged have nots was based solely on wealth and class. The fact that
the line had to be drawn somewhere speaks volumes to the social hierarchy prevalent
in society. At the end of the story, Aunt Beryl shouts at Kezia, How dare you ask the
little Kelveys into the courtyard? in her furious voice, adding, Run away, children, run
away at once. And dont come back again! Burning with shame, shrinking together, the
Kelvey sisters huddled through the big courtyard and squeezed through the white gate.
Conclusion:
Through the portrayal of the predicament of the Kelveys, Mansfield brings out the class
consciousness that was faithfully handed down by one generation to another, from
parents to children and vice versa. Moreover, through the deft portrayal of the character
of Kezia, Mansfield tries to challenge the existing social class consciousness which was
wreaking havoc on the social fabric.

An analysis of Katherine Mansfields The Dolls House

Within a society, social classes are unavoidable. There has been a

constant struggle between the upper and lower class citizens

throughout the unfolding of human history. In many works of
literature, the issue of social stratification is a prominent one. One
author, Katherine Mansfield, utilizes literature to bridge the gap
between the upper and lower classes by empathizing with the less
fortunate class. In Mansfields short story, The Dolls House, she
examines the issue of opposing social classes, ultimately
demonstrating that a connection can be made between the upper
and lower classes. She achieves this connection through the simple
object of a lamp.
The Dolls House reflects Mansfields compassion for the poor, the
lonely, and the outsider, which coincides with her displeasure of the
exceedingly rich and bumptious. This short story is an attempt to
allow the reader to see into the life of the less fortunate. Mansfield
accomplishes this through the use of vivid description and
association. For example, Mansfield describes Else, who is of a low
social class, in the following manner:
Else wore a long white dress, rather like a nightgown, and a pair of
little boys boots Nobody had ever seen her smile; she scarcely
ever spoke. She went through life holding on to Lil, with a piece of
Lils skirt screwed up in her hand. (436)

This description paints a vivid image of a character for the reader,

not only physically but emotionally as well. If one can visualize a
character, then one is more likely to empathize with that character.
In an attempt to further unite the reader with the storys characters,
Mansfield gives the reader possession of Else, a little girl who
figures prominently in the story. Throughout the duration of the
short story, Else is referred to as, our Else. An audience has a
tendency to connect with things that are related to them and their
life; when Mansfield gives the readers possession of Else through the
use of the personal pronoun our, she is enabling them to

sympathize with the poor, the lonely, and the outsider.

Mansfield also attempts to show the reader that people of different
social class are usually separated by exterior qualities, a fact that
seems foolish. Using the lamp as an aid, Mansfield shows the reader
that people can experience similar emotions, regardless of class.
When the Burnells receive a dolls house from Mrs. Hay, they adore
it. It does not take long for the girls of the community to grow
equally as fond of the house. Kezia Burnell keeps no secrets when it
comes to her favorite part of the house, which is the lamp that is
beautifully placed on the middle of the dinning-room table. However,
none of the other children share Kezias fascination for the lamp. In
addition, Isabel, Kezias sister, is very proud of the dolls house that
she and her sisters received; she is the first to tell the schoolgirls of
the remarkable gift. Once she is finished recounting her story of her
newly acquired possession, Kezia informs Isabel that she has failed
to mention the lamp;
Youve forgotten the lamp, Isabel.
Oh yes, said Isabel, and theres a teeny little lamp, all made of
yellow glass, with a white globe that stands on the dining-room
table. You couldnt tell it from a real one. (436)
The way in which Isabel speaks of the lamp indicates that she does
not find it out of the ordinary; this angers Kezia: The lamps best of
all, cried Kezia. She thought Isabel wasnt making half enough of
the little lamp. But nobody paid any attention (437). This proves
true until Kezia secretly invites the young Kelveys into the courtyard.
As Kezia opens the house and is on the verge of pointing out the
lamp that is perfectly placed on the dinning-room table, Aunt Beryl
interrupts and is quick to send the Kelveys on their way. Once Lil and
Else are out of sight, they sit down: Else smiled her rare smile and
said softly, I seen the little lamp! (439). Else seeing the lamp is
indicative of the similarities between the two distinct social groups.

The two young girls identifying with one another prove that despite
social class, people have the same feelings.
In the story, the upper class is taught to look down upon those who
have fewer material possessions. The Kelvey girls are symbolic of
the lowest class in a society; they are a product of a washerwomen
and a gaolbird (436). Lil and Else are not accepted within the
community, even among the children, while Kezia, the youngest of
the Burnells, does not understand why she cannot be friends with
Else. This was evident when she invites Else into the yard to see the
dolls house, knowing that if anyone saw her she would be scolded.
As Kezia shows Else the lamp, Aunt Beryl opens the back door, and
is in disbelief as she shouts to Kezia, How dare you ask the little
Kelveys into the courtyard?...You know as well as I do, youre not
allowed to talk to them (438). Aunt Beryls reaction represents an
upper class sensibility, a sensibility that looks down upon the
classes beneath it.
The idea of social class and societys ability to reject people based
on wealth is a concept that many children are unable to grasp. The
manner in which Mansfield utilizes children in the story enables
youth to connect and see that hardship and inequality exist between
the classes. To the more mature reader, Mansfield utilizes children
as her leading characters, forcing the reader to be more
sympathetic than one might otherwise be. For example, Mansfield
evokes a powerful feeling within a reader immediately after the
Kelvey girls were free from the Burnells courtyard: Presently our
Else nudged up close to her sister. But now she had forgotten the
cross lady. She put out a finger and stroked her sisters quill; she
smiled her rare smile. I seen the little lamp! she said softly. Then
both were silent once more (439). One can sympathize with the
young girls for being thrown out of the Burnells house, but they are
overjoyed with the glimpse of a higher social class that they saw
through the lamp. By presenting these ideas in this manner,
Mansfield hopes that the reader recognizes his/her own ignorant

behavior, resulting in an improvement in the way that the lower

class of a society is treated.
The Dolls House illustrates to its readers the hurtfulness of ones
actions toward people on the lower end of the social spectrum. It
demonstrates the egotistical qualities that exist within the average
upper class citizen. Through Kezia and Else, Mansfield shows that a
connection between the two classes can be made through the
simplest of objects. The average person could live a happier, more
fulfilling life if one allows the notion of a social class structure to be
swept away in favor of a more equitable, loving system.

Theme and Style in The Dolls House by Katherine Mansfield

The Dolls House by Katherine Mansfield started when Mrs. Hay sent a dolls house
to the Burnell children. The dolls house was very big and stunning that every girl in
school were trying to get close to Isabell, the Burnells eldest daughter, so that they
would be picked to see it. However, because of their status, the Kelveys were not
given a chance to see it. They could only listen to other girls story about how
beautiful it is.
Theme
The theme in The Dolls House is particularly talking about the condition in the
society nowadays, where people from higher social status are honored, and people
from the lowest social status are discriminated. The victims in this story were the
Kelveys who were the daughter of a washerwoman, and their father was remains
unknown. They were treated differently and ignored by the people around them.
. the Kelveys were shunned by everybody. Even the teacher had a special voice
for them
When everyone was very excited about the dolls house and being very nice to
Isabell so that they could be chosen to see it, the Kelveys could not do anything
except just listening to the stories about how beautiful it was. No one let them see
it. Tough they finally had a chance to see the dolls house; at the end they were
being outcast by Aunt Beryl.
Not only being ignored, the Kelveys were also insulted because of their status, but
they did not have power to do anything and it made them did not mind with the
insult. Is it true youre going to be a servant when you grow up, Lil Kelvey? Lil
only gave her silly, shame-faced smile. She didnt seem to mind the question at all.

On the other hand, although this story is primarily talking about social class
discrimination, it also tells us that people like Kezia, who stands against it, is still
exist. In the story, Kezia is the most different one among the Burnells. When her
sisters were busy talking about the luxurious things... [continues]

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Katherine Mansfield

Born

14 October 1888
Wellington, New Zealand

Died

9 January 1923 (aged 34)

Fontainebleau, France

Pen name

Katherine Mansfield

Nationality

New Zealand

Literary movement

Modernism

Spouse(s)

George Bowden, John Middleton Murry

Partner(s)

Ida Constance Baker

Relative(s)

Arthur Beauchamp(grandfather)
Harold Beauchamp (father)
Elizabeth von Arnim (cousin)